V For Vendetta, A History of Violence, X-Men 3: October 3rd Comic Reel Wrap

Superhero Hype caught up with actor Stephen Rea about playing Finch in the Alan Moore adaptation. "He's a nice policeman," Rea said. "There comes a point where you stop playing rebels and start playing policemen, and you stop playing madmen and start playing shrinks. I'd much rather be the madman, but this is a very interesting cop in that there's the government, and there's the terrorists, and he's in between them. He doesn't like the government any more than he likes the terrorists, but he is working for the government. It's the Wachowski brothers, so how interesting is that? It's a wonderful, fantastic experience to work with those guys. I read the graphic novel when it became apparent that I was going to do the movie. It's a very interesting response to Thatcher's Britain ... but it's really about Bush's America."

A HISTORY OF VIOLENCE

This one was so strange, we had to run it near the top. Faithful reader Hector Lima pointed out this tidbit over at Contact Music, so strange we can only quote it: "Eccentric film-maker David Cronenberg shocked his cast and crew on the set of new movie 'A History Of Violence,' by publicly performing sex scenes with his wife. The director hoped his explicit displays of affection with his wife would help stars Viggo Mortensen and Maria Bello, who play man and wife in the film, feel more comfortable during their sex scenes together. But, instead, the Cronenbergs just left everyone on the set stunned ... Mortensen says, 'There's a couple of fairly racy sex scenes in the movie ... between Maria Bello and myself. David, trying to be helpful, as usual, thought it might be a good idea to call up his wife and have her come down to the set. The crew and Maria and I just sat and watched while he and his wife got into something comfortable -- nothing -- and they started to say, 'We want you to (do this).' Maria and I were both going, 'OK, we get it.' This is a testament to their relationship, they kept going and they kept going and then we broke for lunch and some time in the evening Maria and I got to have a crack at it. Instead of putting us at ease, we actually were kind of freaked out... Maybe some things ought to stay private.'"

X-MEN 3

The Vancouver set is springing more leaks than a Sean Penn rescue boat. A scooper called Charlie Brown posted some photos he took of the filming yesterday, while this spoiler-esque photo report over at Superhero Hype might tickle your fancy (with earlier photos of the same shoot here).

Not enough? All right -- how about the Vancouver Sun saying that "She Hate Me" actress Dania Ramirez will be playing a "bad girl?" Or would you prefer Australia's Office of Film and Literature Classification saying that the trailer will run two whole minutes? That do anything for you, holmes? Well, we've also got the Agassiz Observer pointing out where everybody's favorite master of magnetism will be parking some vehicles later this month.

More? You insatiable little assignations, all right ... Dark Horizons allegedly breaks down the teaser shot-by-shot, while screenwriter Simon Kinberg talked to IGN's FilmForce about Gambit, Brett Ratner and Jean Grey. "Brett starts from a love of the comics," Kinberg said. "He's got an immense respect for the X-Men universe. He's also got a lot of respect for Bryan's films, so he's not trying to create a radically different template. He's staying loyal to the tone of the first two films, but he's making this movie more visceral and emotional. Since we're dealing with one of the most intense storylines in X-Men history, he knows how important emotion is. And the actors have really responded to him. Wait till you see Famke Janssen in this film. She's going to blow your mind."

That should take care of you for a while ...

LUCKY LUKE

According to Variety (subscription required), " Gallic animation studio Xilam is bringing comicbook hero Lucky Luke to the bigscreen in 'Tous a l'ouest,' slated to bow in fall 2007. Pic will be helmed by Olivier Jean-Marie from a script by Jean-Marie and Jean-Francois Henry." As we were told last week that a certain major comic book company's lawyers didn't understand the term, "Gallic" means "French."

SMALLVILLE

Always on point with spoilers, Kryptonsite has the network description for the upcoming episode "Hidden."

WONDER WOMAN

Memo from actress Eliza Dushku to her former boss, director Joss Whedon: "I'd slap on the Dukes for that!" According to Moviehole, Dushku told fans at Wizard World Boston on Saturday that she was gunning for the pilot's seat on the invisible plane.

SPIDER-MAN 3

Kirsten Dunst kept chatting it up, this time with IESB about whether or not a fourth film is in her future. "Unless they pay me an exorbitant amount of money. (laughing) Well if there is more story to tell and Sam Raimi is on board and everyone is then maybe but this is what I am signed to do... three."

SUPERMAN RETURNS

The official site has launched, without much going on as of yet, but at least the latest video blog shows one Jimmy Olsen handing the figurative torch (or bowtie, in this case) to another.

In possibly related news, proving once again that truth will remain in the lead over fiction in the "strangeness" race with a lead so unsumountable as to be embarrassing, former proposed Superman actor Nicolas Cage and his wife Alice Kim welcomes a baby boy into the world, who they promptly named Kal-El Coppola Cage. No, really. Babies born around the same time are already signing up for a lottery to be the first to kick the Cage baby's butt.

BRIGHT LIGHTS, BIG CITY

If you have the scoop on anything related to comic book movies, TV adaptations or just want to give us a briefcase full of cash, no questions asked, drop us a line and let's coordinate. You can choose an alias if you'd like, or be mentioned by name -- we honor requests for anonymity. Broadcasting live from Los Angeles, this is your humble scribe Hannibal Tabu saying thanks for your time and indulgence, that Friday is my mother's birthday, Thursday marks this reporter's two-year anniversary writing for CBR (yes, I want to be lavished with money), and "don't blame me, I'm drunk too!"